Dempster wins 2nd straight, Red Sox beat Jays

TORONTO
- Ryan Dempster won his second straight start and the Boston Red Sox took advantage of a season-high 10 walks to beat the Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 on Thursday night.

Dempster (2-2) allowed one run and four hits in six innings. The right-hander, who walked three and struck out four, retired 10 of the final 11 batters he faced.

Winless in his first four starts this season, Dempster posted his first victory by beating Houston a week ago.

Andrew Miller got two outs in seventh and Junichi Tazawa got the third. Koji Uehara pitched the eighth and Joel Hanrahan finished for his fourth save in five chances.

Boston improved its major league-best road record to 9-3 and won its seventh series in nine tries this season.

The Red Sox have won eight of 10 and are 20-8 overall, their best start since opening 20-7 in 2002.

Brett Lawrie homered and Colby Rasmus had three hits but the last-place Blue Jays lost for the 12th time in 16 games. Toronto dropped to 4-12 against AL East opponents.

Lawrie connected leading off the bottom of the first, his third homer of the season and the third leadoff shot of his career.

Boston took the lead with a two-run second. Mike Napoli doubled and scored on Mike Carp's single to right, and Stephen Drew drove in Will Middlebrooks with a sacrifice fly.

Blue Jays left-hander J.A. Happ allowed two runs and three hits in 3 2-3 innings, his shortest start of the season. Happ (2-2) matched a career high with seven walks and struck out two.

David Ross drew a leadoff walk from reliever Brad Lincoln in the sixth and moved to second on a wild pitch. Steve Delabar replaced Lincoln but allowed an RBI single to Jacoby Ellsbury.

Toronto loaded the bases in the seventh but Tazawa struck out Adam Lind to end the threat.

NOTES: The roof at Rogers Centre was open for the first time this season. ... Rasmus' first hit was the 500th of his career. ... Red Sox DH David Ortiz got the day off. ... Toronto placed RHP Josh Johnson (right triceps) on the 15-day DL, retroactive to April 29, and recalled Lincoln from Triple-A Buffalo. LHP Ricky Romero is expected to be recalled from Class-A Dunedin to start against Seattle on Friday. ... Red Sox OF Shane Victorino (back) felt fine after taking batting practice and was available to pinch hit. Red Sox manager John Farrell said Victorino could return to the starting lineup for Friday's game at Texas. ... Boston LHP Franklin Morales (back) played catch on flat ground for the second straight day Thursday and is expected to throw a bullpen session in Texas this weekend. Morales went on the DL March 31.